Sat 17 Jan 2015 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
Jac Lynch’s exhibition Butch on Butch opens at Wellington’s Photospace Gallery next Friday. It’s a series of portraits taken in the capital during 2014, which pay tribute to those whose masculinity defies social and gender norms. Lynch was inspired by an online photo exhibition about butches by Meg Allen in the US. 'Heather' - all images copyright Jac Lynch “I thought it would be interesting to do something in New Zealand with our own stories. I wanted to explore how others related to butch as an identity, take their photo and have them speak to their relationship with the term,” the photographer tells GayNZ.com. “In my naive enthusiasm, at the very start I directly asked a few people but that only got me in trouble. As Rebecca Swan says ‘Assume Nothing’. There I was wanting to investigate assumptions and actually doing it myself. Tut tut.” Lynch then put out an invitation through social media and other networks asking for people who self-identified as butch and were interested in being part of the project to get in touch. “I didn’t promote the project as being in the context of sex, gender or sexual orientation so I was open to whoever replied. There was a range in responses. Several people contacted me, not because they identified with the term, but because others labelled them as butch. “The first participant in the project identifies as wahine toa, rather than butch. Other participants are proud butches and see it as a core part of their identity.” One of the memorable shoots was for a participant who wanted to pose topless. “We were in a public park with jogging tracks so my partner had to help out as look-out. Another participant thought the light in a public toilet would work well. It didn’t in terms of the project but we tested it out. Someone else wanted to pose with her fishing rod. We were nearly wiped off a sea break by waves. “But what was really memorable were the conversations we’d have about ‘butch’ during the shoots. These different perspectives are captured in the personal statements that accompany each participant’s portrait.” 'Mel' Lynch says ‘butch’ is a term of western origins and the English language so does not fit with many cultures and perspectives on masculinity. “The 20 portraits in this exhibition only reflect the people who came forward.” The 50-year-old Wellingtonian identifies as feminist, queer, and an “amateur but enthusiastic” photographer. “As a former journalist with a penchant for documentaries, I like telling a story. I see this exhibition as something of a story, one with portraits and a narrative told by the people photographed.” The term butch personally resonates as a code word for a masculinity that challenges social and gender norms. “I’ve only really heard it in queer circles, or by people shocked by someone not conforming with expectations about femininity, or less commonly about a hyper-manly man,” Lynch explains. “I read the novel Stone Butch Blues when I was much younger. I bawled. I wasn’t as miserable, and certainly not a ‘stone’ butch but it clicked with me. “I identify as butch and I know that my personality, how I present myself and my way in the world is seen as masculine, and always has been. I feel it’s just me being comfortable as me in the world. I don’t think it equates to toughness or a lack of sensitivity.” Lynch says we should celebrate people being true to themselves, whether that’s butch, femme or something else. “It takes courage to know you’re defying social norms on a daily basis.” The photographer enjoys butch as an identity, and thinks there’s been something of a resurgence in butch and femme as identities that aren’t linked to traditional views on male and female roles. “When it’s a label it’s accompanied by a whole of lot of assumptions, that aren’t often positive. There’s also a critique of butch when it relates to poor behaviour and disrespect. I think that poor behaviour should be challenged. In my view it’s happens when people aren’t secure in themselves, and are, kind of overacting in a role.” 'Deb and Sue' Overall, Lynch hopes visitors to the exhibition get a sense of the individuals within it, and the range of personalities. “I’d like people to see if their first impression of the person in the photo is matched or not by the personal statement. I’d like to think that people might be challenged or inspired in some way in their thinking of butch as an identity.” Lynch says the photos aren’t for public sale because they will go to the participants in the project. “To cover costs I will have some booklets containing all the photos and personal statements for sale during the exhibition. I’m also inviting people to make a donation if they want to. I may look at making the exhibition online at some point. Once I’ve covered my costs, I want to find a way that it can be used as a fundraiser for queer youth groups.” She can be contacted about the exhibition by email mojojack964@gmail.com The exhibition Butch on Butch, is at Photospace Gallery in Courtenay Place, Wellington from 23 January to 9 February. The opening is Friday 23 January from 5pm to 7pm. Jacqui Stanford - 17th January 2015